Icebergs diverted from NZ, Niwa says

A flotilla of icebergs spotted heading north near Macquarie Island will not make it to New Zealand, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) says.

Niwa scientist Mike Williams told The Press the icebergs seen three weeks ago off Macquarie Island, about halfway between Stewart Island and Antarctica, had missed the South Island.

"It seems that all the westerlies we had at the end of last week have pushed them away from the coast. They're a bit south of Stewart Island but being pushed well out to the east," he said.

There were still about a dozen icebergs near Macquarie Island, which could head toward New Zealand, he said.

- NZPA